When it comes to celebrating Independence Day, there is no better place to be than Gatlinburg TN! You’ll find a variety of special events taking place throughout town, including the first Independence Day Parade in the nation! This spectacular parade kicks off at 12:01 AM on July 4th and marches through downtown Gatlinburg, starting at the Baskins Creek Bypass on East Parkway! Here are the top 3 reasons why you’ll love attending the Gatlinburg July 4th Parade:
1. Experience One of the Best Parades in the Nation
The Gatlinburg July 4th Parade has been named as one of the “Top 10 Parades to See in the US” by National Geographic Traveler Magazine, so don’t miss the chance to enjoy this wonderful event! The parade features festive floats decorated in sparkling fashion, as well as patriotic marching bands, larger-than-life balloons and much more! Wear your red, white and blue, wave your American flag, and join the fun as you cheer on the floats and bands making their way down the parade route!
2. See the Nation’s First Independence Day Parade
As the first Independence Day parade in the nation, the Gatlinburg July 4th Parade starts at just after midnight on the early morning hours of July 4th! There is nothing like seeing marching bands come down the Parkway in the middle of the night, all while surrounded by the sparkling lights of downtown Gatlinburg! The timing of the parade makes it easy for you to enjoy everything that the area has to offer during the daytime, then stay up late to celebrate our nation with an event that has been recognized by Livability.com as one of the “Five Best Fourth of July Celebrations in Smaller Cities”!
3. Convenient Location Just Steps From Our Hotel
The great thing about the Gatlinburg July 4th Parade is that you don’t have to travel far to enjoy the festivities! In fact, you’ll find that the parade route runs directly in front of our Gatlinburg hotel before ending at traffic light #10 at Ski Mountain Road! Kick back in your comfortable hotel room for an afternoon nap or go for a refreshing swim in our indoor pool before heading out to get a spot along the parade route! Once the parade is over, you’ll be back into the comforts of your room within minutes!
Other Celebrations in Gatlinburg on the 4th of July
The Gatlinburg July 4th Parade is just one of the exciting events taking place in town to celebrate Independence Day! The festivities continue with the River Raft Regatta, starting at 11 AM at the former Christ in the Smokies Museum parking area. Decorate a boat with whimsical decor or purchase a rubber duck to participate in the competition, then set sail along the Pigeon River with a hilarious race that starts at 1 PM! Round out the day with Gatlinburg’s Fireworks Finale, a fantastic display that lights up the night sky from the Gatlinburg Space Needle at 11 PM!
Check out all of the rooms at our hotel in downtown Gatlinburg today to stay right along the route for the Gatlinburg July 4th parade! We look forward to seeing you soon!